decontaminate
verb (used with object)
to make (an object or area) safe for unprotected personnel by removing, neutralizing, or destroying any harmful substance, as radioactive material or poisonous gas.
decontaminated
-
past participleof decontaminate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof decontaminate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
decontaminateverb (used with object)to make (an object or area) safe for unprotected personnel by removing, neutralizing, or destroying any harmful substance, as radioactive material or poisonous gas.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Environmental consultants even determined a few smaller buildings could not be effectively decontaminated and consequently had them demolished.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2026
When reused, the decontaminated robots still picked up plastic and microbes, albeit smaller amounts of both.
From Science Daily ● May 8, 2024
Once carefully decontaminated, this water can be reused for further cutting.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2023
Then the site is cleaned and decontaminated, a process that includes removing organic materials like manure and chicken feed that can harbor virus particles.
From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2022
Also they have to be decontaminated, which is basically like getting a high-speed air bath for about an hour.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
